Van Jaarsveld takes top award

Martin van Jaarsveld has been named PCA player of the year, pipping a trio of Englishmen to the award.

Last Updated: 30/09/08 7:16am

Martin van Jaarsveld has been named PCA player of the year, pipping a trio of Englishmen to the award.

The South African-born Kent batsman beat off competition from Somerset opener Marcus Trescothick, Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison and Essex batsman Ravi Bopara to receive the gong at a ceremony in central London on Monday evening.

It is the second year in succession a veteran from overseas has picked up the Professional Cricketers' Association top prize, voted for by the players themselves, following Ottis Gibson in 2007.

Van Jaarsveld scored 1,150 runs in the LV County Championship Division One, although Kent were relegated following a late-season slump.

The 34-year-old also thrived in the other domestic competitions, including an incredible 660 runs and four centuries in just nine FP Trophy innings.

Bopara, left out of England's Test tour of India, added the NatWest PCA young player of the year award to the Young Cricketer of the Year gong he picked up earlier this month.